Farenas fights Gamboa in Pacquiao undercard

Michael Fareñas will face his biggest test and toughest opponent in his eight year pro career in the person of undefeated former WBA/IBF featherweight champion Yuriorkis Gamboa (21W-0L, 16 KOs) of Cuba on the undercard of the fourth fight between Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez in Las Vegas on Dec. 9 (Philippine Time).

Fareñas (34W-3L-4D, 26 KOs) was initially penned to fight on the undercard of the Dec. 15 battle between WBO super bantamweight Nonito Donaire and Mexico’s Jorge Arce in Houston, Texas. Promoter and former two-division world champion Gerry Peñalosa e-mailed this writer and said that the contracts for the Fareñas-Gamboa bout has been signed.

Gamboa, a 2004 Olympic gold medalist has beaten excellent fighters like Orlando Salido, Jorge Solis and Daniel Ponce de Leon. But the Florida-based Cuban has not fought since September of last year.

The 31-year-old Gamboa was scheduled to fight Brandon Rios last April but pulled out of the fight citing contractual problems with Top Rank.

The 28-year-old Fareñas is coming off a technical draw in a world title shot in Japan last July against WBA super featherweight champion Takashi Uichiyama. His last fight in Cebu was a split decision win against Jason Egera last April at the Mandaue City Sports Complex. Fareñas’ fight against Gamboa will be a non-title affair.

Gerry Peñalosa also informed that his nephew, undefeated prospect Dodie Boy Peñalosa Jr. (9W-0L, 9 KOs) will be fighting Jesus Lule (6W-4L, 1 KO) of Florida also on the Pacquiao-Marquez IV undercard.

In his last fight here in Cebu last April, Dodie Boy Jr stopped Indonesian Alex Buckie in nine rounds at the Mandaue Cty Sports Complex. Lule has won his last five fights including two wins in Mexico.